Results

WOMENS 3RD XI - 30/11/2024 VS NORWICH DRAGONS 2 (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens 3rd XI 
DATE: 30/11/2024 
FIXTURE: Womens 3rd XI VS 30/11/2024 
HEADLINE: Entering the Dragons Den  
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 2 NORTH EAST 
VENUE: Dragons Den 
RESULT: 1-0 Loss 
 
REPORT: 
As the light started to fade, we entered the Dragon's Den, hungry for a win. After a motivating team talk from this week's captain, Marie, we warmed up with intent and came out fast. Unfortunately, the Dragons also came out hard and scored early—seems to be the 3's curse at the moment. 
 
Reset, restart, we put up a fight, the defence of Longy, Katie, Emma & GK Jo stood strong at the back, blocking numerous attacks and dealing with short corners effectively.  
 
Chloe G, Corrine, and Marie played great balls across & up the pitch. Lola and Tilly made great runs and showcased excellent stick skills up front, constantly putting pressure on the Dragons' defence. Helen, Phoebe, and Chloe J were crafty with their movement, weaving in and out of the opposition and creating chances in the D. 
 
The game was end-to-end, with both teams hungry for more goals. Despite chances by both teams, the final whistle blew with the Dragons taking a 1-0 win. The team fought hard and ran their socks off, showing great determination throughout the match.  
 
Our sideline supporters were fab and really helped us keep going. One more game before Christmas to look forward to! 

WOMENS 6TH XI - 30/11/2024 VS DEREHAM 4 (H) 
 
TEAM: Womens 6th XI 
DATE: 30/11/2024 
FIXTURE: Womens 6th XI VS 30/11/2024 
HEADLINE: 'A funny old match' 
LEAGUE: EAST DIVISION 4 NORTH EAST (NORTH) 
VENUE: TRF 
RESULT: 1 - 5 loss 
 
REPORT: 
‘It was a funny old match,’ commented a player in WhatsApp later in response to questions about how it had gone. This just about sums the game up. It was physical and a bit bad tempered. It was tough and slightly chaotic – one of those matches where it feels as if the opposition have a couple more players on the pitch than you do. Plus, there was an unwanted noise invasion as the wind direction sent the frequent whistle from the other pitch into our field of play - adding a touch of extra confusion. Dereham 4s are flying high in the league and they were hungry for goals and a win. City held them off for the first 20 mins or so, despite an onslaught on our goal, but then they scored and the goals kept coming - and coming. City won several corners but these were scuppered by Dereham’s super speedy first runner. Then finally a few minutes into the second half player of the match Charlotte Knight (in top diamond) managed to claw a goal back to boost the team’s spirits with some skilful stickwork. The rest of the match was heavily defensive, with two notably strong players for Dereham ploughing through to create repeated short corners and more goals than we would like. A tough game, but we defended hard and will be back to fight another day.  

WOMENS DEVELOPMENT XI - 30/11/2024 VS DEREHAM LD (A) 
 
TEAM: Womens Development XI 
DATE: 30/11/2024 
FIXTURE: Womens Development XI VS 30/11/2024 
HEADLINE: Christmas hockey 
LEAGUE: NORFOLK DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE 
LEAGUE SPONSORS: EMPRESA LIMITED 
VENUE: Dereham HC 
RESULT: lost 4-1 
 
REPORT: 
With the countdown to Christmas underway, Norwich City Girls Devs headed to Dereham in the Bleak Mid Winter for the late pushback.  
 
From the start, both teams were as busy as the elves on the night before Christmas with both sides pushing forwards. Captain Flo was as ever leading by example down the left and proved a constant threat pushing forwards and put a great cross in for Annabelle who was in the perfect position and unlucky not to score.  
 
At the other end, our defence were brilliant combining as a team with Sadie, Mollie A and Mollie H a strong presents 🎁 at the back, constantly thwarting Dereham attacks. And Sienna in goal pulled off remarkable save after remarkable save throughout.  
 
With the score 2-0 at half time, the girls continued to work so so hard which was epitomised by our own Polar Express Annabelle who stopped a ball going out when everyone thought it was going off. Cressie, Amelia, Georgie and India in the middle must have covered more miles than the three wise men running up and down and City got their deserved goal when Tilly hit a Blitzen of a ball to Emily who Dereham had left Home Alone at the back post. Her first shot was well saved but on the rebound, Emily sent a cracker of a shot into the roof of the net, gifting City a goal back and sending 12 Young Womens a leaping.  
 
All the girls worked tirelessly to the very end with Mollie A and Georgie combining really well on the left and showing incredible enthusiasm and determination. Sienna was a star 🌟 throughout and continued to pull off some incredible saves and was unlucky to concede towards the end.  
 
Final score 4-1 to Dereham but a really great game and with our last game next week we weren’t quite Driving Home for Christmas after. The girls enjoyed the teas laid on, especially the Hot Chocolate and Dereham were hugely complimentary about how our team played.  
 
Sienna - outstanding throughout and made some quite brilliant saves  
Mollie H - excellent as ever in defence making some great tackles and blocks 
Sadie - Deserved POTM and put in some really brave tackles and always in the right place  
Mollie A - probably the smallest girl on the pitch but undoubtedly the most enthusiastic and was just amazing at the back with her tackles and passes  
Georgie - ran her little legs off and her shoulder barge to win the ball off a girl twice her size was a real highlight. Had a great game 
Tilly - mixed it with the strong Dereham midfield, some strong hits and gets the assist for Emily’s goal 
Cressie - along with Amelia, covered the most distance in the game and was hugely influential 
Amelia - didn’t stop running and showed her great understanding of the game by always being available for a pass 
India - always positive driving forwards and constantly involved with our attacks showing good stick skills  
Annabelle - what a great game from the Birthday girl. Incredible speed and skill and unlucky not to get a very deserved goal 
Flo - captain fantastic. With Emily, had Dereham shaking in their boots every time she had the ball and left them trailing in her wake  
Emily - really strong game leading the attack and scored easily the best goal of the game with a wonderful finish 
 
Thank you to all the parents who cheered the girls on which was a huge encouragement for them and you made sure it wasn’t a Silent Night!! 
 

MENS 1ST XI - 01/12/2024 VS REPTON 1 (H) 
 
TEAM: Mens 1st XI 
DATE: 01/12/2024 
FIXTURE: Mens 1st XI VS 01/12/2024 
HEADLINE: Men's First team welcome league new boys and table toppers Repton to Taverham 
LEAGUE: CONFERENCE MIDLANDS 
VENUE: Taverham Recreational Facility  
RESULT: 1-1 D 
 
REPORT: After an end to end and hotly contested battle away from home to start the season, Norwich were more than ready for the same again. Last time out was a 3-3 draw and given Repton remained unbeaten since then Norwich were looking to go one better this time. 
3 minutes in and Norwich took the lead through a solo stunner from Max Wilson. Max won the ball at halfway and immediately eliminated the two nearby defenders, before carrying at speed from halfway around 3 defenders and reverse hit into the near post past the onrushing Repton goal keeper. A superb goal to take the early advantage. The rain began to fall but the Norwich chances continued, Ed Beake with a D entry but it came to nothing, Cam Cooke then had a near side reverse hit well saved and then Tom Cooke had a slap in towards the back post just fall short of Max Wilsons stick to finish off the move. Q1 ended 1-0.  
Q2 saw Repton start to threaten. Numerous counter attacks and a handful of d entries but Norwich defending stoutly and there was nothing to trouble Simon Dolan in net. The momentum repton was building was then stamped out after back to back green cards seeing them play with a man done for 4 minutes of the quarter. Norwich couldn't make the most of man advantage and the game remained 0-0 to enter half time. 
Q3 Repton continued where they had started Q2 before their cards and 2 minutes in they had won their first short corner of the game, Simon Dolan was equal to the drag flick and Tom Harris backed that up by clearing away the rebound. 3 minutes later and they had their 2nd corner but this one missed high left. Close to the end of the 3rd quarter and Norwich had won their first panelty corner, Elliot Hibell stepped up and his drag was well saved by a doing Repton keeper.  
Q4 and the game had got frantic, one side looking to close it out and the other to rescue a result. Repton won their 4th corner of the game and made it count with a drag sliding in between goalkeeper and post man to equalize. With 5minutes to go Norwich were ecstatic as they had thought Elliot Hibell had retake. The lead with a thunderous forehand hit into the near top corner, but it was disallowed for a foul earler in the play, much to the annoyance of players, bench and crowd after the celebrations. This was the last entertainment that the game had to offer and it ended 1-1. Another share of the points for the two sides and another absolute cracker of a watch. Repton maintained their unbeaten streak since being promoted into this lead and will go into Christmas in 1st place and the favourites for promotion. Norwich sit in 3rd and will focus on indoor for the next month before they go again in February.